Wife Wants Saddle Too High

My wife likes her saddle high, and recently asked me to raise it for her, which I did.

Today I measured her inseam and calculated the recommended height. The saddle is a full two inches above the height recommended by the Lemond formula (88.3% times inseam to bottom bracket) or 1.09% formula (pedal spindle at lowest point to saddle).

I gave up giving my wife, or most other people for that matter, advice... unless they ask for it. I figure I'll stay married longer this way. As BikeWNC points out, she may like to pedal with toes down.

I would let her make her own mind up if we are talking about my wife of course. In 51 years I've never changed her mind about anything and I am not about to start now. Your results may be different. Good luck.

Chief Executive In Charge Of Diddly Squat.

Taking on a long hill is like fighting a Gorilla. You don't stop when you are tired, You stop when the Gorilla is tired.

I try not to give advice to folks either but... so I have a few girlfriends who refused to learn anything about the bike. Just this weekend my friend meets me for a ride and says "something is wrong, the peddles won't turn". I look, the chain is off. No problem right? Well my friend tried to correct the problem herself and instead of pulling forward the rear derailleur wheel forward cereating slack for the chain, she pulled the front derailleur away from the frame and disconnected the derailleur wire. WTF? Getting the chain on was easy... reconnecting the wire and adjusting the derailleur was hard and her bike... has never ever been cleaned. The chain was crusty with dirt. Ugh! But I was good, just worked quietly and didn't say a word.

______________________________________________________________

Private docent led mountain bike rides through Limestone Canyon. Go to letsgooutside.org and register today! Also available: hikes, equestrian rides and family events as well as trail maintenance and science study.

I say just let her have it where she wants. The guy at the lbs told me to raise my seat almost 2 inches. He didn't measure my inseam to determine seat height. He put my bike on the trainer and watched me pedal to see what my style was. He said I should have the seat at the height where I can use every bit of umph from the leg before I hit the down position. If your wife runs out of leg to push with before she hits the bottom then her seat is too high.

Measuring the inseam only gives an approximate because everyone's pedaling style is different. Some people use more of a flat foot pedaling style using the thigh muscles more, but women are more likely to use a toe pushing one using the lower leg muscles more. At least, that's what the dude said. I am 2 inches shorter than my husband, but my seat is significantly higher than his is (my legs are a bit longer, I admit). I also prefer to use the muscles on the front of my lower legs more than my thigh muscles, thus I have more of a toe pushing style. My knees never bother me, my thighs are weak.

Pamestique, My husband is always washing my chain. I just figure the dirt and gunk is there showing that I ride it. He loves getting his new bike dirty and then all sparkly again. He loves buying various chain lubes and wash stuff. He loves it so much that I allow him to do the same to mine.

Many fitters will have you pedal a bit, then stop the action with your leg extended, and measure the angle of your knee. That's the most precise way to do it. Some also do this with a computer and video. Some do both. Of course, one can still argue about what that angle should be.

"If you're riding less than 18 MPH up a 2% grade please tell people Coggan is coaching you."

I'm on her side and good for her in paying attention to determine what she likes. Many raise their saddles until their hips rock, then they lower it until they don't. Mine is much higher than the formula which is nothing but a starting point.

If you study the road racers on Versus, you see seat heights all over the place. You can tell by how high the knees get.

By the way, one can apply more force on the pedal just before and as it passes over the top (12 o-clock) of the pedal stroke with a higher saddle.

I gave up giving my wife, or most other people for that matter, advice... unless they ask for it. I figure I'll stay married longer this way. As BikeWNC points out, she may like to pedal with toes down.

Originally Posted by Phil85207

I would let her make her own mind up if we are talking about my wife of course. In 51 years I've never changed her mind about anything and I am not about to start now. Your results may be different. Good luck.

Try the heel-on-pedal method; more reliable for me that those formulas. If she has a problem there, you have the ammo to convince her.

Problem I've found (as an ex-shop mechanic) with the traditional "heel-to-pedal" method is it was okay back-in-the day when cycling shoes had flatter soles and pedals were quill-style. In an age of curved-sole cycling shoes and clip-less pedals, it doesn't necessarily work and can produce saddle heights that are on the low side (but still ride-able). Like all methods, it is a starting point. The LeMond (88.3%) method doesn't take into account crank length/shoe length (but it worked for him so good enough) and the ol' 1.09 method can produce too-high saddle heights (voice of personal experience).

"A bicycle built by a frame builder has the soul of the builder. A mass produced frame does not have soul. It doesn't know anyone." - Giovanni "Ciocc" Pelizzoli.“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” - Benjamin Franklin
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]My Ciocc San CistobalVisit my website at http://ciocc-cat.angelfire.com/